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Children should be allowed at wedding ceremonies – survey results solve a common wedding-planning puzzle

30 September 2010

'To invite or not to invite young children?' to weddings is a
big question for couples planning their big day - but a new survey
conducted by the Church of England's wedding show promotions team
suggests a majority of people agree with the Church that children
should be welcome at the ceremony.

The Church's stand - which has the appearance of a beautiful
nave and which offers advice and leaflets on all aspects of
organising a church wedding - will be at the National Wedding
Shows at Earl's Court, London, on 1-3 October, and the NEC
Birmingham on 8-10 October.

In an ICM Omnibus online fieldwork survey of 2,008 people in
Britain, 85% agreed that children should be allowed at wedding
ceremonies, with 9% disagreeing and just 6% saying they didn't
know.

A majority of people also thought that it was down to churches
to initiate the welcome to children, and actively plan how to amuse
younger ones during the service.

When asked to think about the statement 'The church should
welcome young children to wedding ceremonies, and make arrangements
to help keep them happy and occupied', 68% agreed, 23% disagreed
with 9% saying 'don't know'.

The result has prompted the use, by clergy manning the Church of
England stand at wedding shows, of a new advice sheet called
Welcoming Children at Weddings, which has been based on feedback
from diocesan Children's Advisers across the country. It suggests
people should "give each child a 'wedding bag' when they arrive,
containing cards and crayons, so the children can make cards to
give to the happy couple later on"; and it encourages the use of a
"wedding-themed 'fun sheet' containing things such as a word
search, picture to colour and things to spot within the church or
service".

The advice sheet also aims at clergy and suggests ways for
children to take part in the service, particularly when a couple
already has children; one point advises: "By inviting the couple's
children to stand with their parents during the prayers or
blessing, you will be creating a wonderful moment to remember, and
emphasising that this wedding marks a new beginning for the whole
family."

The Bishop of Hertford, the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, who will be on
the Church's stand at Earls Court on 3rd October, said: "This
solves a key wedding-planning puzzle and shows couples needn't
worry about inviting children. So if you want to have children at
your ceremony, then the Church aims to welcome them, just like
Jesus did. We hope it will make the big day even happier and more
special for couples and their guests."

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